His smirk is suggestive, making me even more uncomfortable. I’m not that na?ve to think he’s awed by my beauty. More like my newness is a novelty. Along with the fact I’m from overseas. Guys are the last thing on my mind, and this one screams trouble with a capital T. He’s also rude and arrogant, and neither are traits I admire in a man. Plus, there’s some history with Ash, and I have zero desire to get in the middle of that. I like my new friend, and this jerk isn’t going to get in the way of our burgeoning friendship.
Ash rolls her eyes. “Shut up talking shite, Jay. You’re an idiot.” A scowl crawls across her pretty face, and she sits up straighter in her chair. “Here comes your tramp. Do us all a favor and fuck off.”
A sexy blonde saunters toward us wearing leggings and a long off-the-shoulder sweater that skims her upper thighs. Thick black liner rims her big blue eyes, and her lips kick up in amusement as she loops her arm through Jamie’s. “I thought we were meeting the others at Yum Thai?”
“Which one are you banging this week, Aoife, or do I need to ask?” Ash says, eyeing the woman with clear contempt.
“Who says I’m only banging one of them?” Aoife smirks, leaning her head against Jamie’s shoulder. He wraps his arm around her waist while continuing to stare at Ash.
“Charming,” she tells her before turning the full extent of her disgust at Jamie. “I hope your dick falls off.”
Aoife eyes me suspiciously from her perch on Jamie’s shoulder, and I school my features into a neutral line as I maintain eye contact.
Jamie tugs at his eyebrow piercing while smirking at Aisling. He leans his face in closer to hers and lowers his tone a little. “Sure, you do, Ash.”
She huffs out a sigh. “Get lost, Jay. I’m busy.” A brief flash of pain spreads across her face before she hurriedly hides it.
Straightening up, Jamie brushes Aoife’s hair off her shoulder, leans in, and presses a kiss to the corner of her mouth. “It seems I’m busy too.” He winks, licking his lips again, and I’m liking this guy even less with every passing minute.
Aoife turns into him, flinging her arms around his neck. “Your place or mine?” she purrs, licking a path along his neck.
Gross.
Aisling lowers her eyes to the table, and I notice her hands are gripping her chair tight. I clicked instantly with Ash this morning when we met, but it’s this moment right here that tells me we’re going to be great friends.
Reaching under the table, I squeeze her hand.
Jamie and Aoife wander off without saying goodbye, and it’s good riddance. Neither seem like nice people.
“He’s a wanker,” Catriona says. “And you can do so much better.”
“Don’t tell me you’re sleeping with him again?” Ash’s tall dark-haired friend asks.
She vigorously shakes her head. “I’m not. I learned that lesson, but it’s not like I can avoid him, ya know?”
“Who is he?” I inquire, watching the couple disappear through the far door of the restaurant.
“Jamie is one-quarter of Toxic Gods and my brother’s best mate.”
I quirk a brow. “Toxic Gods?”
Bending over in her seat, she rummages through her bag. “It’s a fucking stupid name. I keep telling Dil and Ro to change it.” She pulls out a pack of cigarettes and stands. Lifting one shoulder, she asks, “Keep me company outside?”
We leave our stuff at the table with the others and head outside to the smoking area. Fuck, it’s cold, and I’m regretting leaving my new coat on the back of my chair. Wrapping my arms around myself, I try to ward off any shivering. I’m silent as I watch Ash pull a few long drags of her cigarette. “Shit, sorry. You want one?” She holds the pack out to me, and I shake my head.
“I don’t smoke.”
“Good for you.” She draws a few more drags, blowing smoke circles into the frigid air. “I’ve tried to give it up, but I have no willpower. It’s hard to go cold turkey when you hang around the live indie rock scene as much as I do. Most everyone smokes.”
“So Toxic Gods is the name of a band?” I surmise.
She nods. “Crap name, but the guys are great. Destined to be stars if Dillon would take it seriously for five fucking seconds.”
“And Dillon is?”
“One of my brothers.”
“How many do you have?” She mentioned there were five kids at home previously.
“Four, ranging in age from twenty-seven to eighteen.”